Six killed in traffic accident

Six killed in traffic accident

BOGOR (JP): Six people were killed and 50 others injured when
a Sari Bhakti Utama intercity bus plunged into a ravine on a
Puncak tea plantation here on Thursday evening after a head-on
collision with a Kijang van, a police officer said.

Five of the six fatalities were passengers on the bus, while
the other fatality was the driver of the van, Bogor Police chief
Lt. Col. Ade Husen said on Friday.

Three of the dead were identified as Nadang S., 22, Endang
Sukmana, 22, and Kosasih, 35. The identities of the other
fatalities, including the driver of the van, are not known, Husen
was quoted by Antara as saying.

The 50 injured victims, including the bus driver, identified
as Madjid, and his conductor, Tata, were taken to PMI Bogor
General Hospital, Ciawi Hospital and Cisarua Hospital.

Witnesses said the bus, which plied the Pangandaran-Depok
route, was driving recklessly at high-speeds when it reached the
tea plantation from the direction of Pangandaran and attempted to
pass a vehicle.

"About 50 meters before reaching the Riung Gunung overpass,
the bus suddenly lost control and hit the van and an empty kiosk
before plunging into the 10-meter-deep ravine," according to a
witness.

The bus passengers were thrown from the vehicle when the bus
rolled over several times, Husen said. (hhr)